Evacuation Drill Set In Clover Springs, Highland Ranch, Palomino Lakes

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management is partnering with community preparedness groups to hold an evacuation exercise Sunday, May 19, for the Cloverdale areas of Clover Springs, Palomino Lakes and Highland Ranch.

The purpose is to help residents familiarize themselves with designated evacuation routes; safely practice evacuating using those routes; exercise the SoCoAlert system to notify participating residents; and encourage residents to register for the county’s alert system.

"This is a great opportunity to ensure you're ready and equipped for the next emergency by practicing the necessary steps for a real evacuation, when every minute counts," said Supervisor James Gore, who represents the Cloverdale area. "If you haven’t already, please sign up for SoCoAlert to receive critical notifications and familiarize yourself with your evacuation zone so you’re ready to go when a real evacuation is issued."

The exercise is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday. Residents will evacuate to Cloverdale Fairgrounds Auditorium, 1 Citrus Fair Drive in Cloverdale.

Residents also have the option to attend the Fire and Earthquake Safety Expo, which is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

Residents of Clover Springs, Palomino Lakes and Highland Ranch are encouraged to register for the exercise at SoCoTest.org. If they are signed up, they will receive an alert at the start of the exercise. Hi-lo sirens will be audible throughout the exercise areas to alert residents to evacuate at that time. Residents do not need to bring pets or animals with them.=

Emergency partners will be available at the evacuation meeting location to provide information on how to prepare homes, families and pets in the event of a real emergency. Residents who participated in the evacuation exercise will be invited to take a survey to help the exercise coordinators learn what worked and identify areas for improvement for future exercises.

Evacuation route for Cloverdale Springs residents:

Evacuation route for Palomino Lakes and Highland Ranch residents:

The evacuation exercise is planned by the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, County Administrator’s Office and the Human Services Department. Also participating in the planning is the Cloverdale Police Department, Cloverdale Ambulance, Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District, California Highway Patrol and the American Red Cross.

Emergency officials encourage residents to identify official sources of information now so that they have direct access to accurate and timely facts during an emergency.